'Willy Wonka' Child Star Has A Completely Different Career (VIDEO)

October 14, 2014 2:58 PM

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More than four decades ago, Peter Ostrum was a little boy living in Cleveland, participating in a local children's theater. Then, the sixth-grader was cast in a film called "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," and, suddenly, everyone knew who he was. Ostrum became famous for his portrayal of cute, blond-haired Charlie, the lucky boy who won the Golden Ticket. It was his first -- and only -- movie role.

In the years since the 1971 release of "Willy Wonka," Ostrum says that his days being recognized as Charlie are long behind him. He recently opened up to "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" about his experience as an actor in the cult classic and his life after walking away from the film industry.